Convertible Vehicle with a Separately Moveable Rear Window

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with a rear window, which is surrounded on its side by flexible covering areas and which can move relative thereto. In order to ensure a sealing between the covering areas and the rear window, a flexible and tensible cloth loose section is provided, which is frequently also designated as a water pocket. The inventive convertible vehicle is designed in such a manner that the cloth slack section is fastened at the bottom to a cloth retainer engaging underneath the rear window, and the cloth retainer has, for retaining, a retaining opening that is passed through by a portion of the cloth slack section. In addition, the cloth slack section comprises a thickened edge stop at its edge, which is located toward the inside with regard to the vehicle transversal direction and which faces the lateral edge of the rear window.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT/DE2006/000069, filed 19 Jan. 2006, which claims priority from application No. DE 10 2005 015 678.9, filed 6 Apr. 2005, the entire content of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a convertible vehicle with a rear window which is surrounded at least laterally by flexible cover regions and is relatively moveable with respect to them on the opening or closing of the roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A convertible vehicle having a soft top with a flexible roof cover is known from DE 100 29 471 B4 which has a rear window with a large viewing region. For this purpose, the rear window extends downwardly up to a material holding hoop bounding the roof when the roof is closed. Since the holding hoop is moved upwardly on the opening of the roof and thus approaches a rearmost loop disposed above the rear window when the roof is closed, the space available for the rear window between the material holding hoop and the rearmost loop is reduced in size in the roof movement. To nevertheless avoid a collision between one of these parts and the rear window, the latter is relatively moveable with respect to cover regions disposed to the side thereof and its lower edge can project over the material holding hoop in the roof movement. To avoid water externally located or acting on the roof cover or rear window from being able to penetrate into the passenger compartment, at least the space between the lateral cover regions and the rear window must be sealed, for which purpose in each case a flexible and tensionable loose material portion is provided which is frequently also called a water pocket. A sealing problem in particular occurs in the near zone of the material holding hoop in which a lateral frame of the rear window has already terminated and the water pocket extends there without any direct contact to the rear window.

It remains desirable to improve the scaling in rear windows moveable with respect to surrounding material regions.

SUMMARY OF TEE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a convertible vehicle includes a retractable top having a rear window laterally surrounded by flexible cover regions and relatively movable with respect to the cover regions, the top having a respective flexible and tensionable loose material portion that forms a water pocket for sealing between the cover regions and the rear window, the loose material portion is downwardly fixed to a material holding hoop disposed beneath the rear window and the material holding hoop has a holding opening through which a part of the loose material portion engages.

By this arrangement, a reliable downward water drainage is achieved water collected between the rear window and the lateral cover is drained into the holding openings, a penetration of water into the passenger compartment is prevented.

If the holding opening is advantageously located at the lower end of a rim of the loose material portion at an inner side with respect to the transverse vehicle direction and close to the lateral edge of the rear window, water located at this innermost end of the water pocket is prevented from running further inwardly in the direction of the passenger compartment. The water is instead fully drained downwardly.

The holding opening not only forms a holder for the water pocket, but also an introductory opening for the water drained from the loose material portion. The water can then penetrate downwardly into the clamp and can drain downwardly from there.

A barrier against a further movement of water to a vertical longitudinal central plane may be provided by a thickened edge block, whereby the water located on the water pocket is prevented from running further inwardly into a free region no longer covered by the rear window during the roof movement. The water is blocked by the barrier and is, thereby, drained off downwardly.

In one embodiment, the edge block includes a folded over edge region of the material portion forming a cavity, through which a cord of flexible material, for example foam rubber or similar, may be pulled for thickening. The flexible material is elastic and is, therefore, able to be tensioned by the material holding hoop.

Provided the marginal block opens into the holding opening of the material holding hoop and the thickened portion engages through the holding opening, an flow of water running toward the inner edge of the water pocket into the material holding hoop is ensured. The marginal block forms a water guide into the holding opening and can simultaneously also be tensioned by the material holding hoop.

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible vehicle in accordance with the invention obliquely from above and behind with a closed roof;

FIG. 2 is a view of the opening roof with an upwardly pivoted material holding hoop from a similar perspective to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view approximately of the detail III in FIG. 2 from a rotated perspective with a direction of view facing to the front left;

FIG. 4 is a sectional representation approximately corresponding to the line IV-IV in FIG. 1, that is with a closed roof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional representation approximately corresponding to the line V-V in FIG. 2, that is during the opening of the roof;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the left hand lower marginal region of the opening for the rear window—not drawn itself;

FIG. 7 is a view of the left hand marginal region of the opening for the rear window—not drawn itself—from a similar view as in FIG. 3 with additionally drawn fastening means for the water pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The partially convertible or fully convertible vehicle 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a roof 2 having a flexible roof cover 3 at least in its rear portion and including a rear window 4.

The vehicle 1 can be either a two-seater or have a larger interior space with two or more seating rows behind one another.

The roof 2 is at least partly moveable and can be stowed partially or completely in the rearward vehicle region when opened. In the illustrated embodiment, a cover part 5 is provided on the vehicle 1 which is moveable with respect to the car body and on which a rearward roof region stands up when the roof is closed with a material holding hoop 6 bounding the roof 2 rearwardly and tensioning the cover 3. The cover part 5 may be closed above a roof receiving space with the roof 2 opened.

The rear window 4 is not fixedly connected to the material holding hoop 6 at its lower rim 7, but rather sealing contacts it directly or indirectly when the roof 2 is closed.

The material holding hoop 6 is upwardly pivotable as the roof (FIG. 2, FIG. 3) is opened, with the rear window 3 releasing from it and engaging over it with its lower rim 7. After sufficient upward pivoting of the material holding hoop 6, the cover part 5 can open so that the roof 2 can then be lowered.

To release the rear window 4 from the material holding hoop 6, the rear window 4 may be guided laterally along correspondingly shaped cam tracks or, for example, by a multi-joint mechanism. The rear window 4 also releases itself from the laterally surrounding regions 8 of the cover 3 toward the top in a relative movement, when the roof (FIG. 3, FIG. 5) so that when the material holding hoop is deployed, the lower edge 7 of the rear window can be moved beyond the material holding hoop.

To seal the openings which form between the rear window 4 and the cover regions 8, a flexible and tensionable loose material portion or water pocket 9 is provided respectively at each side. The water pocket 9 can, for example, comprise one or more material webs which can, for instance, be rubberized or impregnated to repel water. It can also fully consist of a flexible material.

The water pocket 9 is downwardly fixed to the material holding hoop 6 which extends beneath the rear window 4 when the roof 2 is closed such that the water pocket extends into the material holding hoop. For this purpose, the material holding hoop 6 has a slot-like cut-out 10 on its upper side as a holding opening for a part 11 of the loose material portion 9 extending through the holding opening. This part 11 is fastened, for example riveted from below, to the clamp 6 beneath the holding opening 10 in a visually unobtrusive manner.

The two holding openings 10 are located generally symmetrically on die material holding hoop 6 beneath the lower ends of the rims 12 of the loose material portion 9 at the inner side with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and facing the lateral edges 13 of the rear window 3 so that these rims 12 extend into the holding openings 10 and can be tensioned by them on the lowering of the material holding hoop 6.

The holding openings 10 not only form holders for the loose material portions, but also function as openings for water drained off from the loose material portion 9.

The loose material portion 9 is provided at its rim 12 at the inner side with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and facing the lateral edge 13 of the rear window 4 with a thickened marginal block 14 which extends parallel to the rim 12 and forms a downwardly facing guide for water to be kept away from the water pocket 9. The water is prevented from overflowing in the direction of the transverse center of the vehicle by this marginal block 14 and is drained off downwardly in the direction of the material holding hoop 6.

The marginal block 14 can be formed in one piece with the loose material portion 9 by a folded over marginal region of the material portion 9 which forms a loop. A cord 17 of flexible material, for example of foam rubber, which has substantial flexibility and elasticity, being may be drawn into the cavity of the folded over marginal region. Alternatively, the marginal block can also be formed by a separate part, for instance a plastic portion, which can, in turn, be fixedly secured to the loose material portion 9.

The marginal block 14 also opens into the holding opening 10 of the material holding hoop 6 and engages through it at its end facing the transverse vehicle center. The diameter of the marginal block 14 generally corresponds to the width of the holding opening 10 in the longitudinal vehicle direction. An end of the opening 10 is substantially filled by the marginal block 14 which is fixed beneath the holding opening to the material holding hoop 6 either indirectly via an adjacent material region of the water pocket 9 or directly via itself.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, the rear window 4 lies laterally on co-moveable frame parts 16 which extend longitudinally and which are engaged over here by the loose material portion 9 so that the latter is disposed between the rear window 4 and the frame part 15. Since the water pocket 9 extends outwardly in one part from here, water collecting directly at the rim of the rear window 4 during movement of the roof 2 is also drained off outwardly and downwardly and does not find any way to infiltrate the rear window, for instance. The loose material portion 9 furthermore even engages over the frame part 15 and is fixed on its inwardly facing side. A plurality of rivets 19 serve for this purpose in the representation in accordance with FIG. 7. A real adhesion is also additionally or alternatively possible.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is, therefore, to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 

1. A convertible vehicle comprising: a retractable top having a rear window laterally surrounded by flexible cover regions and relatively movable with respect to the cover regions, the top having a respective flexible and tensionable loose material portion that forms a water pocket for sealing between the cover regions and the rear window, the loose material portion being downwardly fixed to a material holding hoop disposed beneath the rear window, the material holding hoop having a holding opening through which a part of the loose material portion engages.
 2. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the holding opening is located at the lower end of the rim of the loose material portion at the inner side with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and facing the lateral edge of the rear window.
 3. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein the holding opening, in a dual function, forms an introductory opening for water drained off from the loose material portion.
 4. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein the loose material portion has a thickened marginal block at its rim at the inner side with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and facing the lateral edge of the rear window.
 5. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 4, wherein the marginal block includes a folded over marginal region of the material portion.
 6. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 5 including a cord of flexible material which is drawn into the cavity of the folded over marginal region.
 7. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein the marginal block opens into the holding opening of the material holding hoop and engages through the thickened portion of the holding opening.
 8. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein the marginal block is fixed to the material holding hoop beneath the holding opening.
 9. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 8, wherein the loose material portion at a vertical longitudinal central plane of the vehicle at least regionally engages over a frame portion extending beneath the rear window and is fixed on its inwardly facing side.
 10. A convertible vehicle comprising: a retractable top having a flexible cover and an opening formed in the cover, the opening in the cover extending between spaced apart side edges of the cover, the cover having a tensionable loose material portion that forms a water pocket extending along each side edge of the cover, the cover having a thickened edge block extending along, an inner side of the loose material portion to form a seal with the rear window and prevent water penetration therebetween, the cover having a material holding hoop that extends beneath the rear window, the material holding hoop having a holding opening that receives a part of the loose material portion therethrough allowing water collected in the water pocket to pass to the material holding loop.
 11. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the thickened edge block extends along an inner side of the loose material portion with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle and facing the lateral edge of the rear window.
 12. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 11, wherein the thickened edge block includes a folded over edge region that forms a loop.
 13. A convertible vehicle in accordance with claim 12 including a tensioning cord extending through the loop. 